The robin, not the turkey, is the real Christmas bird; you'll find him on cards, cakes and Christmas trees. But is Robin Redbreast having us on? Is he really the friendly and gentle little fellow he seems? Does he deserve his special Christmas place? Dr. Richard Collins, scientific adviser to Mooney Goes Wild, investigates! To read more about this special documentary, and to listen to the programme, click here.

Mooney

Derek Mooney with his unique mix of conversation, information, advice and entertainment

Coming up today:

Why shaving your beard can be dangerous in some Islamic countries, we hear about the health benefits of green tea and, we’re looking for three players for Mooney's Monday Quiz - if you are interested in taking part then e-mail mooney@rte.ie!

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Eurosong: Entry One

Last Thursday, we premiered the five acts who will vie to represent Ireland at Eurovision 2013. The winning act will be decided on during Eurosong 2013 on The Late Late Show on Friday, February 22. Today, we hear again 'Son Kez (The Last Time)', performed by Inchequin (written by Hugh O'Neill & Sinéad Bradley; arranged by Tevfik Kulak; mentor: Shay Healy).

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Vote For Tree Of The Year!

A European search is underway to find not just the oldest, the tallest, the biggest, the most beautiful or the rarest of trees. The search is for the most lovable tree, a tree with a story that can bring the community together. The trees participating in the European Tree of the Year are winners of national contests. The Irish entry is the King Oak - Pendunculate Oak (Quercus robur), in the Charleville Forest Estate, Tullamore, Co Offaly. At the moment it is in 5th place, so if you would like to see our tree go up the ratings, then click here to vote! www.treeoftheyear.org

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Cultural Sensibilities Of Beards

When you think of razors, and the whole ritual of shaving, you think of the two major brand names, Wilkinson Sword and Gillette. These two giants of the shaving industry have been battling it out in court for decades over patent infringements, improper claims, and even advertising slogans! Which brand gives the closest shave? Do you really care?

If you’re from a certain Islamic tradition, you not only don't care, but you might feel that the whole shaving ritual is a strictly Western phenomenon. Many Muslims feel that growing a beard should be mandatory for men. On the other hand, during the Mubarak era in Egypt, beards were a total no-go.

These days, they are back with a vengeance in Egypt. And it's thrown open a huge debate in the Muslim world about the cultural and religious status of facial hair on men.

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Green Tea

Although the number of people in Ireland who drink green tea (2%) is small compared to black tea (98%), it is a growing market. And it’s the health claims of the green leaf that appeals to many drinkers. Depending on who you listen to green tea helps lower cholesterol, reduces heart disease, eases pain, keeps your teeth healthy, it’s good for your skin and aids weight loss. Only last month a judge in Wexford cited the drink’s calming and detoxifying effects – judge John Lindsay advised a teenager who appeared before him accused of threatening and abusive behaviour to consider switching from alcohol to green tea.

Mooney producer Fergus Sweeney spoke to David McKernan, the founder of Java Republic, about the health benefits of the drink... And Derek talks to Nigel Hooper, Professor of Biochemistry at the school of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Leeds University. He and a team of researchers have discovered that an extract in green tea and red wine could slow the progress of Alzheimer’s...

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Mooney's Monday Quiz

Three players attempt to beat the clock, and each other, to win a two-night weekend break for two people sharing one room in the 4-star Mount Falcon Country House Hotel on the banks of the River Moy in Ballina, County Mayo.

If you win, the prize includes breakfast on both mornings and dinner on an evening of your choice in the hotel’s Kitchen restaurant. While there you might like to visit the hotel’s leisure centre with its 17 metre swimming pool with a view of the woods – or pay a trip to The Elemis Spa.

Runners-up will get a hardback copy of Bird Habitats In Ireland by Richard Nairn and John O’Halloran. And EVERYONE who takes part in the quiz will get a special “PRIDE” Mooney Watch!

The Questions:

Player 1

1: What city is famous for its Leaning Tower?

2: In what 'cartoon town' do Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble live?

3: What is measured in decibels?

4: What animal is celebrated in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, every year?

5: In which American state are the cities of Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio?

6: In maths, if X minus 7 = 8, what is x?

7: Who wrote the play Dancing At Lughnasa?

Player 2

1: What is the floral symbol of Scotland?

2: In maths, if X minus 4 = 4, what is x?

3: Which Irish county is known as the Premier County?

4: What is amnesia?

5: Who wrote the famous novel Black Beauty?

6: What is the collective term for a group of whales?

7: In which American state are the cities of Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa?

8: What game is being played if Advantage follows Deuce?

Player 3

1: The song You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two comes from which musical?

2: What "S" is a black powder produced when you burn coal or other fuels?

3: Who wrote the novels Pride And Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion?

4: In maths, X minus 3 = 7, what is x?

5: In which American state are the cities of Yonkers, Albany and Syracuse?

6: What "S" is the fruit of the blackthorn tree?

7: According to the legend, what happened to anybody who looked directly at Medusa?

8: Would you find your ‘patella’ in your wrist, leg or ear?

9: Arnold Schwarzenegger is a native of what country?

The Answers:

Player 1

1: What city is famous for its Leaning Tower? (Pisa)

2: In what 'cartoon town' do Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble live? (Bedrock)

3: What is measured in decibels? (Sound)

4: What animal is celebrated in Killorglin, Co. Kerry, every year? (Puck goat)

5: In which American state are the cities of Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio? (Texas)

6: In maths, if X minus 7 = 8, what is x? (15)

9: Who wrote the play Dancing At Lughnasa? (Brian Friel)

Player 2

1: What is the floral symbol of Scotland? (Thistle)

2: In maths, if X minus 4 = 4, what is x? (8)

3: Which Irish county is known as the Premier County? (Tipperary)

4: What is amnesia? (Loss of memory)

5: Who wrote the famous novel Black Beauty? (Anna Sewell)

6: What is the collective term for a group of whales? (School)

7: In which American state are the cities of Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa? (Florida)

8: What game is being played if Advantage follows Deuce? (Tennis)

Player 3

1: The song You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket Or Two comes from which musical? (Oliver!)

2: What "S" is a black powder produced when you burn coal or other fuels? (Soot)

3: Who wrote the novels Pride And Prejudice, Emma and Persuasion? (Jane Austen)

4: In maths, X minus 3 = 7, what is x? (10)

5: In which American state are the cities of Yonkers, Albany and Syracuse? (New York)

6: What "S" is the fruit of the blackthorn tree? (Sloe)

7: According to the legend, what happened to anybody who looked directly at Medusa? (They turned to stone)

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Hedgerows: It is an offence to 'cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy hedgerows on uncultivated land during the nesting season from 1 March to 31 August, subject to certain exceptions'. For more information, click here.

UPDATE: February 29th 2016 - Press Release From BirdWatch Ireland:

Putting the record straight: Dates for burning and hedge-cutting have NOT changed

BirdWatch Ireland, Ireland’s largest conservation charity, is very concerned about misinformation that is currently circulating regarding the dates within which the burning of vegetation and cutting of hedges is permitted. It would like to remind landowners that all burning and cutting must cease on 29th February this year and that burning and cutting remains prohibited from 1st March to 31st August.

Despite attempts by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys T.D., to change the laws regulating these dates by introducing the Heritage Bill 2016 earlier this year, it is important to note that the proposed date changes were ultimately NOT made. This is because the bill failed to pass through both houses of the Oireachtas before the recent dissolution of the Dáil in advance of the general election.

The laws in place governing the dates for hedge-cutting and upland burning therefore remain unchanged. The period within which cutting and burning is prohibited are set down in Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended in 2000), which states that:

(a) It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy, during the period beginning on the 1st day of March and ending on the 31st day of August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated.
(b) It shall be an offence for a person to cut, grub, burn or otherwise destroy any vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch during the period mentioned in paragraph (a) of this subsection (above).

The existing law provides exemptions for road safety and other circumstances and should be read carefully to ensure compliance.

Section 40 of the Wildlife Act exists to protect nesting birds. Many of our upland bird species are in decline and are in danger of extinction in Ireland; amongst them is the Curlew, which has declined by 80%. Many birds which nest in hedgerows into August are also in serious decline, including the endangered Yellowhammer. The changes to the cutting and burning dates which had been proposed in the now-defunct Heritage Bill 2016 would have caused serious impacts to these birds. A petition launched by BirdWatch Ireland in conjunction with several other national conservation organisations to stop these changes attracted more than 16,200 signatures and rising.

BirdWatch Ireland would also like to advise members of the public that if they see hedges being cut or fires in the uplands on or after 1st March, such activity could be illegal. In such cases, we would encourage people to contact the National Parks and Wildlife Service (www.npws.ie) to report such activity.

BirdWatch Ireland warmly welcomes the demise of the Heritage Bill 2016 and sincerely hopes that any future administration will consider the importance of Ireland’s natural heritage and will not attempt to reintroduce such a flawed and damaging piece of legislation.

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